Where to look for rust on 1986 chevy - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

mockingbird · 12-22-2011, 10:10 PM

I am going to be looking at an 86 1/2 ton 4x4 chevy and was wondering where to look for problem rust areas. I know that the cab corners, rocker panels,fenders and bed sides rust. But was wanting to know where else these trucks rust. Any help would be appreciated.

Goldfinger · 12-22-2011, 10:14 PM

Bring a magnet. The fender wells the floors the cab corner. check the wiring. the tailgates rust bad. knock around the sheet metal if it goes from hollow to a solid sound it might have bondo.

donut · 12-22-2011, 10:29 PM

Door bottoms, top of the gas tank (bottom if it has a shield on it) cowl, spring mounts....

Anyplace water, mud, dirt, salt, can sit.

If you start finding rust, you WILL find a lot more the deeper you get.

rpmerf · 12-22-2011, 11:03 PM

be sure to look at brake and fuel lines

Mr. 250r · 12-23-2011, 12:51 AM

Everywhere lol, axle housing from a rusty environment - inner fender wells on front, core support, cab seal on fire wall behind motor, all of cab/bed, frame, all exhaust and hangars etc might as well check it all I've seen rust in every spot and not just a little
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piecesparts · 12-23-2011, 12:55 AM

Look at the firewall seam that is behind the engine. This seam is where the cowl meets the actual firewall. If there is no bubbling at this seam, then the truck has not seen too much rain and the seam sealer that is inside the cowl is still good. Also look at the rear fenders above the wheel wells and the area just behind the front fenderwells, where the large bolt is holding the fenderwell to the cab.

ont_guy_38 · 12-23-2011, 08:56 AM

Look at the frame , mostly the rear half

madcow75 · 12-23-2011, 09:38 AM

Yes rear of the frame, especially at the front of the rear leaf springs. Dirt and salt get trapped and rot the frames out.

xrcr · 12-23-2011, 09:53 AM

Agree with everything previously posted. Would say that the Firewall is the worst to fix. Look at the A-pillars that would run a close second or tie. Everything else is fixable just varying degrees of a PITA.
Just my opinion, I could be wrong.
xrcr

77shortstep · 12-23-2011, 11:57 AM

everywhere

notyo_cheez · 12-23-2011, 04:35 PM

One of the hidden areas is the pinch welded seams under the front and rear window gaskets, you can't tell unless you remove the windows. And there aren't any aftermarket patch panels for them either. Fortunately my project came with the rear window out and the damage was obvious...

My donor cab had some rust on the firewall seam too. The seam sealant shrank after 25 years in the south Texas sun, water and pine needles settled in and damage was done. I just ground out as much as I could and crammed some fiberglass filler in it, called it done. It won't win any beauty contests, but so what.

12-22-2011, 10:10 PM	#1
mockingbird Registered User Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Macomb Illinois Posts: 5	Where to look for rust on 1986 chevy I am going to be looking at an 86 1/2 ton 4x4 chevy and was wondering where to look for problem rust areas. I know that the cab corners, rocker panels,fenders and bed sides rust. But was wanting to know where else these trucks rust. Any help would be appreciated.

12-22-2011, 10:14 PM	#2
Goldfinger Registered User Join Date: May 2010 Location: laurel hill Fl Posts: 645	Re: Where to look for rust on 1986 chevy Bring a magnet. The fender wells the floors the cab corner. check the wiring. the tailgates rust bad. knock around the sheet metal if it goes from hollow to a solid sound it might have bondo. __________________ 1985 C10 Custom Deluxe LWB 305/700r4 [ Goldfinger ] 1999 k3500 crew cab dually 6.5tdi/4l80e

12-22-2011, 10:29 PM	#3
donut Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: S.C. Posts: 1,593	Re: Where to look for rust on 1986 chevy Door bottoms, top of the gas tank (bottom if it has a shield on it) cowl, spring mounts.... Anyplace water, mud, dirt, salt, can sit. If you start finding rust, you WILL find a lot more the deeper you get. __________________ '86 C-30 dually, 454/tbh400 '73 K-20 350/350/205 (sold ) I'm kinda like duct tape- no real purpose, but handy to have around.

12-22-2011, 11:03 PM	#4
rpmerf Registered User Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Parkville, MD Posts: 1,024	Re: Where to look for rust on 1986 chevy be sure to look at brake and fuel lines __________________ 1970 C20 Custom Camper - 350, TH350 1997 GMC Suburban 1994 Acura Integra GSR 1987 Dodge Daytona Shelby Z

12-23-2011, 12:51 AM	#5
Mr. 250r Registered User Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: freeburg, illinois Posts: 885	Re: Where to look for rust on 1986 chevy Everywhere lol, axle housing from a rusty environment - inner fender wells on front, core support, cab seal on fire wall behind motor, all of cab/bed, frame, all exhaust and hangars etc might as well check it all I've seen rust in every spot and not just a little Posted via Mobile Device __________________ 1987 Chevy V30 - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=573854 1988 IROC-Z Camaro - 305/T5 T-Top 1989 GMC V35 - Marbolo Express http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=596850 1991 V2500 Suburban Silverado - Sold 1991 V2500 Suburban Scottsdale - Big Nasty http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=497423 2001 Ram 3500 5.9 H.O NV56 EC DRW - Sold 2003 1500 Silverado 2004 Ram 3500 5.9 H.O NV56 CC DRW - Sold 2005 Silverado 2500HD 6.6/ZF6 CC LWB

12-23-2011, 12:55 AM	#6
piecesparts Parts and more parts Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Lebo, Kansas (middle of nowhere Posts: 6,821	Re: Where to look for rust on 1986 chevy Look at the firewall seam that is behind the engine. This seam is where the cowl meets the actual firewall. If there is no bubbling at this seam, then the truck has not seen too much rain and the seam sealer that is inside the cowl is still good. Also look at the rear fenders above the wheel wells and the area just behind the front fenderwells, where the large bolt is holding the fenderwell to the cab. __________________ Frank

12-23-2011, 08:56 AM	#7
ont_guy_38 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Ontario Canada Posts: 1,006	Re: Where to look for rust on 1986 chevy Look at the frame , mostly the rear half

12-23-2011, 09:38 AM	#8
madcow75 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Fort Erie , Ontario Posts: 525	Re: Where to look for rust on 1986 chevy Yes rear of the frame, especially at the front of the rear leaf springs. Dirt and salt get trapped and rot the frames out.

12-23-2011, 09:53 AM	#9
xrcr Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Foristell, MO Posts: 418	Re: Where to look for rust on 1986 chevy Agree with everything previously posted. Would say that the Firewall is the worst to fix. Look at the A-pillars that would run a close second or tie. Everything else is fixable just varying degrees of a PITA. Just my opinion, I could be wrong. xrcr

12-23-2011, 11:57 AM	#10
77shortstep Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Lebanon, MO Posts: 215	Re: Where to look for rust on 1986 chevy everywhere __________________ 77 CHEVY - SHORT BED STEP SIDE 2WD 02 CHEVY - EXT CAB SHORT BED Z71 7 INCHES OF LIFT

12-23-2011, 04:35 PM	#11
notyo_cheez Registered User Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: corpus christi, tx - america's fattest city Posts: 253	Re: Where to look for rust on 1986 chevy One of the hidden areas is the pinch welded seams under the front and rear window gaskets, you can't tell unless you remove the windows. And there aren't any aftermarket patch panels for them either. Fortunately my project came with the rear window out and the damage was obvious... My donor cab had some rust on the firewall seam too. The seam sealant shrank after 25 years in the south Texas sun, water and pine needles settled in and damage was done. I just ground out as much as I could and crammed some fiberglass filler in it, called it done. It won't win any beauty contests, but so what.



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